Loved the pictures. Thaks for sharing the article.

I am doing some test prep books with my kids because we have state required testing in April. They haven't been doing too well on the vocab part and I am not sure what to use to help them with that. We do read alot and we are halfway through LC I, but other than that I don't use a formal program. Would Wordly Wise help? Do you feel a weorkbook program sticks? I am afraid they will fill in the answers and forget the words by the next page.

No advice, but I do have Abecedarian level A teacher's and student book for sale if you are interested.

Thanks for the replies. I do know my kids are better at home and I have no intentions of stopping homeschooling, I just want to make sure I am giving them the best education that I can. You'd think by now I would stop second guessing myself every step of the way :o

Thanks for the heads up. I will be prepared to go back twice then. I would rather go a few times and get an accurate result then rush and miss something.

I think it was a miscommunication between the recieptionist and Dr. The recieptionist told me the appointment would be 3 hours and the Dr said that all together it's 3 hous, bus she feesl that 3 hours is too long for most kids so she does it in seperate days. I completely understand, I am just anxious to find an answer, kwim?

and I was disapointed. She did a regular eye exam and some other stuff, but wants me to bring him back on March 5th for the vision eval. I thought that's what I was doing today, so I was a bit upset. I did like her alot though and she seemed very thorough. Plus she spoke to my son and explained things to him, which I liked. One thing she said he might be having issues with is convergence ( I think thats what she said?) but that she wont know much until the actual eval.

There are so many stories about how public schools are failing and I wondered why? What makes them fail? What is the measure used to decide what is failing or not? Then I got to thinking about my homeschool and my kids. How do I know I am not failing them? How do I know that we aren't just going through the motions and that they are really learning? What does real learning look like? Short of testing, which I don't think is an accurate assessment anyhow, how can I know that I am not failing them?

I have 2 clients right now that I clean for. Client one has 1 bedroom( 3 more upstairs that I only do if company is coming), kitchen, dining area, lviing room, office, den, laundry room, 2 bathrooms and entry. It takes me 4-5 hours to clean her place. She has A LOT of "stuff". Client 2 has 4 bedrooms ( I only clean master) 4 bathrooms, kitchen, dinning area, living room, laundry, den and family room. It takes me 3.5-4 hours to clean her house. She has minimal stuff and hardly any clutter. I am no longer cleaning for client 2 though, not that it matters for this thread :-)

Yes, but how well written was it? I'd rather my kids write 2 well done pages than 22 with grammar and spelling errors and a lot of fluff rather than decent content.

We make this one every week. Its fantastic! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Buttermilk-Pancakes-II/Detail.aspx

I would guess if you are eating avocados, nuts and eggs you re fine. I was tracking my diet in sparkpeople and was eating between 5-10 % a day and now I eat 15-20% and feel better. But it could just be the loss of weight, which is great btw!

I was freezing all the time and did some research and found tool little fat can cause feeling cold. I am not possible if it worked, but since upping my fat intake( good fats olive oil, nuts and seeds) I don't seem to be as cold.

I am down 2#s this week. I was really pleased with the scale :D 267/186.5/140

I am so sorry. :(

Well, it's not fancy but what I do is have the kids pick out books of their choice. They read about their topic, write a summary and draw a picture or a diagram. If you wanted to go deeper you could buy or get a spine on one topic and then get library books on each sub-topic that comes up in the spine book.

That's good to know, thanks. I have no idea what test are what. I will update once I know more.

We go Wednesday for his developmental optomitrist eval. I also have an appointment at a private clinic here on the 29th for an eval for his speech and reading issues. I am really looking forward to having some sort of answer or atleast a plan in place.

Yes, they can have their share in electricity, heat, water and food over the next 12 months.

We spend $900, but I need to cut it back to $800. There are 12 of us and this includes all cleaning, diapers, personal hygiene, pets etc. I spend @ another $50 or so at our food co-op.

My highschoolers are using SOS Spanish 1 this year and I really like it. I didn't think it was hard to set up and they seem to like how it works. I really enjoy that it grades it for me!

I am using calamine and gave him benedryl, but I am flipping as to what's causing it.

My 8 yo started having these red, raised bumps along his arms a few days ago. They are very itchy and he will have a line of them in a row. I did a google search and they look like fleas or *shudder* bed bugs? But then he started yesterday with a lacy red rash on his face, neck and arms and I thought fifths disease. But I have never seen fifths with raised red bumps. Also, he sleeps in a room with 3 of his brothers and none of them have any bumps or rash, which makes fleas or bed bugs unlikely ( I think). Oh another thing, we haven't travled, slept over night anywhere. Wouldn't we have had to pick up bb's somewhere? I mean you don't just "get " them. Sorry, I am freaking here LOL William who sleeps in there has had a fever for 2 days, which would fit with the fifths, but the 8 to has had no ferver or sickenss. I am stumped. Any ideas?

We used to spend between $1500-$1800, but this year I am buying TOG and all the assorted books and switchig to BJU Homesat so we are up to @ $3500.

We printed our own announcements too and got our supplies from Hobby Lobby. We purchased a diploma through HSLDA.